NHTSA Complaint #10451308 — 2006 YAMAHA XVS11

WHILE RIDING DOWN THE SHORELINE AT LOW SPEEDS, MY WIFE AND I NOTICED A WHINING TYPE NOISE HAPPENING JUST WHILE THE BIKE WAS DECELERATING. I BROUGHT THE BIKE HOME AND A FRIEND OF MINE WHO USED TO WORK FOR A YAMAHA DEALERSHIP TOLD ME SINCE I HAD TO REPLACE THE BACK TIRE ANYWAY I SHOULD ALSO LUBRICATE THE SPLINE ON THE DRIVESHAFT. THE FIRST RIDE AFTER THAT WE STOPPED IN THE PARKING LOT RIGHT DOWN THE STREET WHEN WE HEARD IT AGAIN. THIS TIME THE BIKE WAS LOCKING UP JUST TRYING TO PUSH IT IN THE LOT. WHEN WE PULLED IT APART THE HEAD OF THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE U-JOINT HAD SHEARED OFF. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND HE SAID IT HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES IN THE PAST. HE ALSO SAID TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $2,500.00 TO REPAIR. I WAS SAVING UP FOR THE REPAIR WHEN JUST RECENTLY I NOTICED ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I DON'T SEE HOW THIS IS NOT A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT WITH THIS DESIGN. LUCKILY FOR MY WIFE AND MYSELF THIS HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT. I HOPE A MESSAGE CAN GET OUT TO OTHER OWNERS OF THIS STYLE OF MOTORCYCLE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THANK YOU. *TR